Edward Rigney,
proprietor of the Nevada Stables, at the northwest corner of Eighth and
Harrison streets, Oakland, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, April 9, 1854,
a son of Martin and Bridget (Devany) Rigney, both natives of Ireland, married
in Jersey City and living in Oakland, in 1891, aged, respectively, sixty-five
and fifty-four.Edward is the oldest of
their nine children, four sons and five daughters, all living, and was brought
up in this State from the age of two years.The father went to mining near Jackson in Amador county, and in 1858
moved into Calaveras county, where he was interested in farming as well as
mining at Mokelumne Hill, owning at one time about 1,000 acres.In 1878 he moved with his family to this
city, where all now reside.

E. Rigney, the
subject of this sketch, was educated in the district school to the age of
sixteen, and at seventeen began mining on his own account, and soon with marked
success.From 1877 to 1888 he has been
chiefly engaged as superintendent of mines, usually owning an interest, and
eventually effecting the sale of each.He was thus connected with the “Safe Deposit,” “What Cheer,” “Amador
King,” “Amador Queen,” “Spring Gulch,”
and “Quaker City.”He was the
discoverer of the “Timolus” mine, but before its sale to the Bank of San Jose
had sold a part interest therein.Mr.
Rigney is still interested in some mining property, but since October, 1888,
when he made his first purchase in his present line, he has given this most of
his attention.Originally a riding
school, the Nevada Stables are taking rank among the most prosperous of the
livery, sale and boarding stables of Oakland.Mr. Rigney has also some real estate interests in this city, and is an
active, wide-awake and progressive business man.Of American birth and Irish descent, he is proud of both, and an
excellent type of what the Irish race would become with the added endowment of
liberty.In 1890 he aided in the
reorganization of the Alameda County Humane Society, and is one of its
officers.

Mr. Rigney was
married at Mokelumne Hill, July 3, 1887, to Miss Nellie Murphy, born in
Calaveras county, February 12, 1867, a daughter of Maurice and Eliza (O’Meara)
Murphy; the father deceased comparatively young; the mother, born in 1829, is
still living in that county, in 1891.

Mr. and Mrs.
Rigney are the parents of two children: Mary, born in Calaveras county,
February 17, 1888; Loretta, born in Oakland, in September, 1889.